[ADD] Manufacturing: Dropship subcontracting lead times

closes odoo/documentation#9297

Signed-off-by: Samuel Lieber (sali) <sali@odoo.com>

content/applications/inventory_and_mrp/manufacturing/subcontracting.rst

@@ -132,3 +132,4 @@ to factor in the cost of dropshipping.
    subcontracting/subcontracting_resupply
    subcontracting/resupply_subcontracting_lead_times
    subcontracting/subcontracting_dropship
+   subcontracting/dropship_subcontracting_lead_times

content/applications/inventory_and_mrp/manufacturing/subcontracting/dropship_subcontracting_lead_times.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+==================================
+Dropship subcontracting lead times
+==================================
+
+.. |PO| replace:: :abbr:`PO (Purchase Order)`
+.. |RfQ| replace:: :abbr:`RfQ (Request for Quotation)`
+.. |BoM| replace:: :abbr:`BoM (Bill of Materials)`
+
+In Odoo, lead times are used to predict how long it takes to complete a certain action. For example,
+a *delivery lead time* can be set for a purchased product, which specifies the number of days it
+usually takes for the product's vendor to deliver the product to the purchasing company.
+
+For subcontracted products specifically, delivery lead times can be configured to take into account
+the amount of time required for the subcontractor to manufacture a product. Doing so allows the
+contracting company to better predict the delivery dates of subcontracted products.
+
+Certain subcontracted products require the contracting company to supply the subcontractor with
+manufacturing components. In this case, a *manufacturing lead time* can be used, in addition to the
+delivery lead time, to generate the date on which the subcontractor must receive the required
+components, in order to manufacture the product and deliver it on time.
+
+In cases where components are dropshipped to the subcontractor, an additional delivery lead time
+can be set for each component. This should be set to the amount of time it takes the vendor to
+deliver components to the subcontractor.
+
+Once a delivery lead time has been set on a component, dropship orders for the component display the
+date by which the order must be confirmed, so that it can be dropshipped to the subcontractor by the
+date on which manufacturing must begin.
+
+.. important::
+   Like all lead times in Odoo, lead times for subcontracted products are only an estimate, and are
+   based on how long actions are *expected* to take.
+
+   Unforeseen circumstances can impact the completion of these actions, which means that lead times
+   should not be viewed as guarantees.
+
+Configuration
+=============
+
+When using the :doc:`Dropship Subcontractor on Order <subcontracting_dropship>` route, a company is
+responsible for purchasing the necessary components from a vendor, and having them dropshipped
+directly to the subcontractor.
+
+This means that, in addition to the amount of time it takes the subcontractor to manufacture and
+deliver the product, it is also necessary to consider how long it takes the component vendor to
+dropship the components to the subcontractor.
+
+By assigning a product's subcontractor a *delivery lead time*, specifying a *manufacturing lead
+time* on the product's BoM, and assigning the vendor of the components an additional *delivery lead
+time*, *Dropship Subcontractor* orders for the product's components display the deadline for
+confirming a dropship order to send the components to the subcontractor.
+
+Product delivery lead time
+--------------------------
+
+To set a delivery lead time for a product's subcontractor, navigate to :guilabel:`Inventory app -->
+Products --> Products`, and select a subcontracted product.
+
+Then, select the :guilabel:`Purchase` tab on the product's page. If the subcontractor has not
+already been added as a vendor, do so now by clicking :guilabel:`Add a line`, and selecting the
+subcontractor in the :guilabel:`Vendor` column.
+
+Once the subcontractor has been added, enter the number of days it takes them to manufacture and
+deliver the product, in the :guilabel:`Delivery Lead Time` column.
+
+.. image:: dropship_subcontracting_lead_times/delivery-lead-time.png
+   :align: center
+   :alt: The Delivery Lead Time field for a subcontractor, on the Purchase tab of a product page.
+
+Product manufacturing lead time
+-------------------------------
+
+Next, navigate to the product's |BoM| by clicking the :guilabel:`Bill of Materials` smart button at
+the top of the product's page. Then, select a BoM from the list.
+
+On the |BoM|, select the :guilabel:`Miscellaneous` tab. In the :guilabel:`Manuf. Lead Time` field,
+enter the same number of days that was entered in the :guilabel:`Delivery Lead Time` field of the
+|BoM|'s product.
+
+.. image:: dropship_subcontracting_lead_times/manufacturing-lead-time.png
+   :align: center
+   :alt: The Manuf. Lead Time field on a product's BoM.
+
+While not all of these days are actually used for manufacturing by the subcontractor, setting the
+same number of days in each field tells Odoo that the subcontractor must receive the components and
+begin production by the start of the product's delivery lead time. This gives the subcontractor
+enough time to both manufacture and deliver the product.
+
+Component delivery lead time
+----------------------------
+
+From the product's BoM, navigate to each component by clicking on the component in the
+:guilabel:`Components` tab, and then clicking the :icon:`oi-arrow-right` :guilabel:`(right arrow)`
+button to the right of the component.
+
+On the product page for each component, select the :guilabel:`Purchase` tab. If the vendor has not
+already been added, do so now by clicking :guilabel:`Add a line`, and selecting the subcontractor in
+the :guilabel:`Vendor` column.
+
+Once the vendor has been added, enter the number of days it takes them to dropship the product to
+the subcontractor, in the :guilabel:`Delivery Lead Time` column.
+
+Dropship subcontracting workflow
+================================
+
+Create a request for quotation (RfQ) for the product by navigating to :menuselection:`Purchase app
+--> Orders --> Requests for Quotation`, and clicking :guilabel:`New`.
+
+Specify the subcontractor in :guilabel:`Vendor` field. Then, add the product in the
+:guilabel:`Products` tab by clicking :guilabel:`Add a product`, selecting the product in the
+:guilabel:`Product` column, and specifying a quantity in the :guilabel:`Quantity` column.
+
+In the :guilabel:`Expected Arrival` field, enter a date that provides enough time for the component
+vendor to dropship the components, and the subcontractor to manufacture and deliver the product.
+
+.. important::
+   When a product is added to an |RfQ|, the :guilabel:`Expected Arrival` field auto-populates with a
+   date that is today's date plus the delivery lead time of the product. However, this does not
+   consider the time it takes to dropship the components to the subcontractor.
+
+   When purchasing a product subcontracted using the *Dropship Subcontractor on Order* route, it is
+   necessary to adjust this date to take into account the extra time needed for the components to be
+   delivered to the subcontractor.
+
+   Since production does not begin until they receive the components, leaving the date as is results
+   in the finished product arriving *after* the date listed on the |RfQ|.
+
+Next, click :guilabel:`Confirm Order` to turn the |RfQ| into a |PO|. Doing so creates a second |RfQ|
+to purchase the components from the dropshipper, and have them sent to the subcontractor.
+
+Navigate to :menuselection:`Purchase app --> Orders --> Requests for Quotation`, and select the
+|RfQ| that lists the dropshipper in the :guilabel:`Vendor` column.
+
+On the |RfQ|, the :guilabel:`Expected Arrival` field lists the date on which the subcontractor must
+receive the components, in order to deliver the finished product by the *Expected Arrival* date
+listed on the subcontractor |PO|.
+
+The :guilabel:`Order Deadline` field lists the latest date on which the |RfQ| can be confirmed, in
+order for the dropshipper to deliver the components to the subcontractor by the :guilabel:`Expected
+Arrival` date.
+
+Click :guilabel:`Confirm Order` to turn the |RfQ| into a |PO|, and confirm the purchase of the
+components from the dropshipper. Doing so causes a :guilabel:`Dropship` smart button to appear at
+the top of the page.
+
+Click the :guilabel:`Dropship` smart button to open the dropship order. This order can also be
+accessed from the :guilabel:`Resupply` smart button that now appears on the subcontractor |PO|.
+
+After the dropshipper has delivered the components to the subcontractor, click the
+:guilabel:`Validate` button at the top of the dropship order to confirm that the subcontractor has
+received the components.
+
+Once the subcontractor receives the components, they begin manufacturing the component, before
+delivering it to the contracting company.
+
+.. example::
+
+   Bike retailer *Mike's Bikes* works with a subcontractor — *Bike Friends* — to produce units of
+   their *Bicycle* product.
+
+   Mike's Bikes must purchase the required components from vendor Bike World, and have them
+   dropshipped to Bike Friends.
+
+   On average, Bike Friends takes three days to manufacture each bicycle, plus an addition two days
+   to deliver it to Mike's Bikes.
+
+   As a result, Mike's Bikes sets a delivery lead time of five days for bicycle manufactured by Bike
+   Friends: three days for manufacturing, plus two days for delivery.
+
+   On the bicycle's BoM, they enter a manufacturing lead time of five days as well, to remind
+   themselves of the date that components must be delivered to the subcontractor.
+
+   On the product pages for each of the bicycle's components, they assign Bike World a delivery lead
+   time of two days. This is the amount of time it takes Bike World to dropship each component
+   directly to the subcontractor.
+
+   On May 10th, Mike's Bikes confirms a |PO| for one bicycle, with an expected delivery date of May
+   17th.
+
+   The |RfQ| for purchasing the components from Bike World and having them dropshipped to Bike
+   Friends has an Expected Arrival date of May 12th, and a Deadline of May 10th. The |RfQ| must be
+   confirmed by the deadline in order for Bike Friends to receive the components by the Expected
+   Arrival date, giving them enough time to deliver the finished bicycle to Mike's Bikes by May
+   17th.
+
+   .. image:: dropship_subcontracting_lead_times/deadline-arrival.png
+      :align: center
+      :alt: The Order Deadline and Expected Arrival dates on a dropship order.
+
+   Mike's Bikes confirms the |RfQ| on May 10th, and Bike World delivers the components to Bike
+   Friends on May 12th. Bike Friends manufactures the bicycle, and delivers it to Mike's Bikes on
+   May 17th.